As we do every three months, we offer here a fresh update of selected statistical indicators of what has happened since Barack Obama first took the oath of office in January 2009.
Obama’s Numbers (July 2015 Update)
Issues: deficit
Biden Resurrects Bogus Talking Points
Vice President Joe Biden resurrected years-old, Democratic talking points on the Affordable Care Act and U.S. oil production during a recent speech in New Hampshire.
FactChecking Obama’s State of the Union
In his sixth annual address, the president stretched some facts on his record.
Biden’s Boasts
Vice President Joe Biden went too far in boasts about job growth and deficit reduction.
Obama’s Numbers October 2014 Update
Income, Poverty, Spending and Obamacare: Our regular update of the statistical record.
Obama’s Numbers (April 2014 Update)
Our statistical indicators include record corporate profits and millions flocking to Obamacare, along with stagnant wages and a doubled debt.
Deficits Falling (From Way Up)
In recent speeches, President Obama has repeatedly claimed that “our deficits are falling at the fastest rate in 60 years.” That’s not true.
Spinning Obama’s Budget
Both parties are putting political spin on the deficit reduction contained in President Obama’s $3.78 trillion budget plan.
Paying People to Play Video Games
House Speaker John Boehner tweets that the Obama administration is spending $1.2 million “paying people to play video games.” That’s misleading. The government did pay $1.2 million for university research that includes the study of how video games can stimulate the cognitive abilities of seniors. A fraction of that cost went to compensate seniors who participated in the study, researchers say.
Boehner was one of several prominent Republican congressmen who sent out a flurry of tweets – hashtag #cutwaste – distorting the research.
Reid Twice Wrong on $2.6 Trillion ‘Cuts’
Sen. Harry Reid was doubly wrong when he claimed that Congress already has cut $2.6 trillion from projected future deficits by reducing “non-defense programs” alone.
In fact, legislation he refers to applied to both security and non-security spending. Furthermore, a good chunk of the deficit reduction came from tax increases, not spending cuts.
Reid made the claim — twice — on ABC’s “This Week” on Feb. 3, in support of his argument that further deficit reduction should include more tax increases and cuts in military spending.